Two groups of friends have avoided immediate jail terms after a night out in Chepstow turned into a street fight.

Eleven people appeared at Cardiff Crown Court on Monday after previously admitting their involvement in the fight on 8th December last year.

Prosecutor Jason Howells said six of the defendents, Luke Osmond, Frederick Morgan, Robert Jackson, Shane Simons, Leon Jones and Thomas Matthews, were on a Christmas work night out.

They had started drinking at the Wetherspoons pub in Pontypool before visiting Chepstow Racecourse, where a free bar had been laid on by their employers.

At about 5pm, they had moved on to Chepstow town centre and continued drinking.

"At the same time, Alix Haddock, Arron Haddock, Jason Trattles, Katie Dawson, Billy Turley and Leanne Huyton from Lydney were out to celebrate the season and Billy Turley's 21st birthday," said Mr Howells.

"Their paths crossed and CCTV shows the aftermath."

The court was shown footage of the defendents fighting outside the King's Head pub in Welsh Street, with the role of each highlighted.

Luke Osmond, 22, told police in interview he had drunk six or seven cans of Fosters at the racecourse and another seven pints in Chepstow, Mr Howells told the court.

"He joined in the fight after someone told him his friend had been beaten up."

Oil engineer Osmond was given an 18-week jail term suspended for 18 months for affray by Recorder Christopher Clee QC, who said a further charge of escaping lawful custody would lie on file.

Mr Clee said the two groups had "all had far too much to drink when the night descended into a street fight lasting 20 minutes".

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He added that all the defendents were in employment and that references spoke highly of them.

"This offence was out of character for all of you."

After seeing himself on CCTV, Arron Haddock, 19, admitted punching someone in the head and stamping. He was given 40 weeks in jail suspended for 18 months for affray.

Jason Trattles, 21, was headbutted and blacked out during the fight and was given 24 weeks suspended for 18 months for affray.

Single mum Katie Dawson was given 40 weeks suspended for 18 months for affray after kicking a man on the floor.

The 27-year-old told police her involvement could be attributed to her consumption of alcohol and mephedrone or 'm-cat'.

Robert Jackson, 21, said he had been so drunk he didn't recall leaving the races and had been "sticking up for a friend".

He was given 24 weeks suspended for 18 months for affray.

Shane Simons, 36, at first denied it was him on the CCTV pictures but later admitted affray and was given 24 weeks suspended for 18 months.

Billy Turley, 21, admitted scrapping with a male, "kicking out" after he was put in a headlock, and was given 40 weeks suspended for 18 months for affray.

Turley's partner Leanne Huyton saw Leon Jones on the floor about to get up and kicked him in the face, knocking him unconcious. She later kneed another man in the face.

The pregnant 25-year-old was given 40 weeks suspended for 18 months.

Leon Jones, after being knocked out, was a "thorough nuisance" to police when he came round.

He was given 24 weeks suspended for 18 months.

Osmond, Haddock, Trattles, Dawson, Jackson, Simons, Turley and Jones were also told to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and, along with Huyton, will pay £100 costs as well as a victim surcharge.

Frederick Morgan, 48, pushed a PCSO because he thought they should pay more attention to his step-son Leon Jones. He pleaded guilty to a public order offence and was fined £350.

Thomas Matthews, 23, was found with a small amount of cocaine and was "generally obstructing police".

He was fined £350 for a public order offence and given a 12-month conditional discharge for possession of cocaine.

Alix Haddock, 21, was in hospital on Monday after dislocating his hip and will be sentenced on another date.

Gethin Francombe and Tomas Francombe, who appeared at previous hearing charged with affray, were both bound over.